New Limit Of 156 Wolves Marks Decrease Of About 100 Compared To Last Year’s Quota
By Chuck Quirmbach
The Department of Natural Resources Board has passed a hunting and trapping limit of 156 wolves for this fall at a Wednesday meeting in Milwaukee.
DNR staff recommended the number, which is about 100 wolves fewer than last year’s quota. The board approved that recommendation after hearing two hours of testimony from the public.
DNR Secretary Cathy Stepp said the recommendation was based on good science.
“We feel it is or else we wouldn’t be bringing it forward,” she said. “We’ve got a good team of folks who have been working on this.”
The DNR said the recommended kill total was lower because of several factors, including overall wolf mortality rates over the last two years and what the agency calls its “early and somewhat limited understanding” of how the wolf harvest affects the state’s wolf population.
Stepp said one thing not affecting the more moderate wolf kill proposal is election year politics from the Walker administration.
“Election year has absolutely nothing to do with our decisions,” she said. “We really base it on the science that our team puts forward, and then balancing that with the social and economic impacts it can have as well.”
One of the activities that upset wildlife advocates the most during last year’s wolf hunting season was the use of dogs to track wolves. Stepp said dogs will still be allowed.